Jigawa State Government has appointed 2,020 teachers as part of efforts to address staffing shortages in public primary, junior and senior secondary schools across the state.

The appointment letters were presented to the beneficiaries on Friday at the Banquet Hall of the Government House in Dutse, with the state government saying the move would strengthen teaching capacity and improve learning outcomes, particularly in underserved communities.

The recruitment comes against persistent teacher shortages in Jigawa, with rural schools particularly affected by inadequate staffing and overcrowded classrooms.

Governor Umar Namadi said the latest appointments were designed to direct qualified teachers to schools where the need was greatest.

Of the 2,020 beneficiaries, 1,200 former J-TEACH personnel have been converted to permanent and pensionable appointments, having completed the required training and selection process. Another 820 newly recruited personnel have joined the J-TEACH programme.

The J-TEACH initiative provides temporary teaching opportunities for qualified personnel, with eligible participants able to progress into permanent appointments following training, assessment and selection.

Namadi said the expansion of the teaching workforce would complement other interventions by his administration aimed at improving conditions for learners across the state.

He also disclosed that 450 bicycles donated by Guaranty Trust Bank would be distributed to pupils and students who travel long distances to schools in hard-to-reach communities.

According to the governor, the bicycles are expected to ease transportation challenges and improve punctuality, attendance and retention among learners living far from their schools.

The latest exercise also builds on the state’s wider J-TEACH programme. Namadi said 7,500 personnel had entered basic education through the programme since 2023, with 3,000 subsequently converted to permanent appointments after training and competitive selection.

The Commissioner for Higher Education, Prof. Isa Chamo, said the recruitment would help reduce pressure in overcrowded classrooms and improve lesson delivery.

He stressed that deployment and redeployment of teachers would be based on verified staffing needs, qualifications, subject specialisation, merit and performance, with particular attention to addressing disparities between urban and rural schools.

The Jigawa Government said its investment in education would continue to include teacher development, infrastructure and instructional materials, with sustained training and retraining expected to form part of efforts to improve teaching quality.